Varney the Vampire eBook

So hurried was the progress they made, that it was
scarcely possible to exchange many words as they went;
a kind of breathless anxiety was upon them, and in
the speed they disregarded every obstacle, which would,
at any other time, have probably prevented them from
taking the direct road they sought.

It was difficult on the outside of the wall to say
exactly which was the precise spot which it might
be supposed the body had fallen on; but, by following
the wall in its entire length, surely they would come
upon it.

They did so; but, to their surprise, they got from
its commencement to its further extremity without
finding any dead body, or even any symptoms of one
having lain there.

At some parts close to the wall there grew a kind
of heath, and, consequently, the traces of blood would
be lost among it, if it so happened that at the precise
spot at which the strange being had seemed to topple
over, such vegetation had existed. This was to
be ascertained; but now, after traversing the whole
length of the wall twice, they came to a halt, and
looked wonderingly in each other’s faces.

“There is nothing here,” said Harry.

“Nothing,” added his brother.

“It could not have been a delusion,” at
length said Mr. Marchdale, with a shudder.

“A delusion?” exclaimed the brother!
“That is not possible; we all saw it.”

“Then what terrible explanation can we give?”

“By heavens! I know not,” exclaimed
Henry. “This adventure surpasses all belief,
and but for the great interest we have in it, I should
regard it with a world of curiosity.”

“It is too dreadful,” said George; “for
God’s sake, Henry, let us return to ascertain
if poor Flora is killed.”

“My senses,” said Henry, “were all
so much absorbed in gazing at that horrible form,
that I never once looked towards her further than to
see that she was, to appearance, dead. God help
her! poor—­poor, beautiful Flora. This
is, indeed, a sad, sad fate for you to come to.
Flora—­Flora—­”

“Do not weep, Henry,” said George.
“Rather let us now hasten home, where we may
find that tears are premature. She may yet be
living and restored to us.”

“And,” said Mr. Marchdale, “she
may be able to give us some account of this dreadful
visitation.”

“True—­true,” exclaimed Henry;
“we will hasten home.”

They now turned their steps homeward, and as they
went they much blamed themselves for all leaving home
together, and with terror pictured what might occur
in their absence to those who were now totally unprotected.

“It was a rash impulse of us all to come in
pursuit of this dreadful figure,” remarked Mr.
Marchdale; “but do not torment yourself, Henry.
There may be no reason for your fears.”

At the pace they went, they very soon reached the
ancient house, and when they came in sight of it,
they saw lights flashing from the windows, and the
shadows of faces moving to and fro, indicating that
the whole household was up, and in a state of alarm.